Chris Adcock is hoping he and wife Gabby can end a fine 2014 on a high when they take part in the BWF Destination Dubai World Superseries Finals this week.
The Adcocks will compete in the mixed doubles format, which will pit the eight best pairings over the year in two groups of four.
Chris and Gabby were drawn in Group A along with China’s world number one pair Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei, Korea’s Ko Sung Hyun and Kim Ha Na and Germany’s Michael Fuchs and Birgit Michels.
England’s number one doubles pairing finished third in their group in the BWF finals in Malaysia last year, just failing to reach the semi-finals when they lost their deciding rubber.
But the world number six duo are adamant that they can go one better at badminton’s year-end showpiece after finishing their second full year together as a partnership.
“If you lose a match you still have a great chance of qualifying so it can be a real rollercoaster,” said Chris.
“It will be an interesting week. There has never been a major tournament there before and it will be up to the locals to decide who they want to get behind during the week. It’s exciting times.
“The mixed doubles hasn’t been completely dominated this year. The world number one pair have set themselves apart, but there have been times when they have lost. They can be beaten and we have won against them before.
“It has been a really tough year, but in a great way. The highlights would have to be winning the Swiss Open against a truly world-class field.
“The Commonwealths Games were then a dream come true for us. It is one of those events you grow up watching and it’s one we have always wanted to win. It was a special two weeks.
“More recently, reaching the French Open final and the Hong Kong Open semi-final was a good run for us. But winning the Commonwealth gold will be tough to top.”
© Sportsbeat 2014